Chereads / Unrecorded Tales / Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 - First Tale XXII

Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 - First Tale XXII

Without minding my mood Miss Highlander opened the door for me to enter. Not sure how to feel about that, I don't really feel like going there after I learned how careful they are about this place. But I guess it is to late to go crying about it, this kind of unexpected situations happen when you lack proper information... not to mention the fact I let someone else choose for me what I could do by myself. At some point I would have to come here if I wanted to talk to all the people on the list so I have to deal with it.

Upon taking my first step into the greenhouse, I was surprised with what greeted me... plants, lots of them. Of course, considering where I was that's normal. Rows and rows of different plants were being cared for by the employees in this place. I seemed to have arrived at a busy time... or maybe it is like this normally, I have no experience with this kind of work. I have to say, that I found this sight impressive not only by the sheer number of flower and other plants I can't tell what they are, but by the diversity I could see with only a cursory glance. I wondered if I was impressed because I am a total novice in regard to knowledge like gardening and the likes of it. Maybe someone with a deeper level of knowledge would be able to take this sight easily.

Regardless of my initial surprise, time wasn't going to stop while I glanced from one place to another. Although this sight was impressive that it made me forget about my business for a moment, I had things to do.

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The reason Miss Highlander decided to bring me here was because this place was closer and not because the number of people I had to talk were numerous. There were 4 employees here I had to talk.

Well, I already talked to 3 of them.

The result? I did not get much information at all, they were awfully un-cooperative. Not sure why though.

I don't think I did something wrong to them, and even when I took into account that some people would act like that... I did not expect them to avoid the topic that much. Maybe I was naive since my conversation with Anthony went well, he was quite friendly in comparison to those guys. This is quite strange, instead of outright lying to me when I touched the subject they choose to simple divert the conversation. Considering that, I think they wouldn't talk me at all of there was not the pressure from Miss Highlander when they were about to deny me when I asked them for a bit of their time. Is this them jist being guarded about the topic or to others in general?.

Three repeated failures were tough, they left me thinking a couple of things. Although they did no say a useful thing, it is not like there were no gains. Since they were like that, I learned a bit about their relationship with the guards. Well, the only guard was Miss Highlander behind me, but there was a subtle animosity directed at her. Makes me wonder if they would react the same with any other guard or not. Since there is a possibility that the Miss in question could've done something to recieve that reaction I can't be certain. But I still feel like the behavior of guards like the ones who took me to the manor last night plays a role in this situation.

Putting aside what I have to ask regarding the theft and any 'other' info I would like to know. I should add a new objective, asking about the guards. That of course will be when Miss Highlander is not following me a few steps behind like she is doing now.

This last person I have to find seems to be rather far inside the smaller greenhouse, and since I did not want to enter that place I asked Miss escort to let me walk around here. While I looked for the other 3 'victims' I glanced around but did not pay much attention. Now that I got a bit of 'free' time, I might as well take this opportunity to see why this place is rather important.

I can't really recognize the plants around me, but I got to see different kinds of them this time. What strange place, they don't seem to have them arranged by their kind, I can see flowers mixed with regular (?) plants. Some are quite ugly while some are... colorful? I feel like the one I have in front of me is a little too colorful. I recall when I watched TV, the tv show said that you should be wary when you find colorful stuff in nature. Many animals and plants lure their prey by being showy. So, I will get away from this flower just in case, I won't be able to tell if what is in front is dangerous or not. That is truly not funny.

Perhaps my display of nerves was that bad that Miss Highlander decided to ask me about it.

"Is there something wrong?"

Oh... Where should I begin? Well, she is asking about now and not in general but I couldn't stop thinking that in my mind.

"I am not very knowledgeable about plants so I don't know which ones could be harmful"

"Oh, that? You don't need to mind it. It is not easy to notice since it is your first time here, but we have been walking around near the glass walls all this time. The 'harmful' plants as you asked are located at the center and we keeping our distance from there. While the ones that require even higher level of caution are located in the other greenhouse"

Now that she mentions it... It is true that we are walking near the glass walls. Since I was not paying attention to anything other than the people I had to talk I did mind it. I only noticed now, along with the immense size of this greenhouse. Truly a large construction. But what made this confusing was that each area is divided by more glass walls, so I was not mindful of the distance I walked.

"Even within each area there even smaller divisions but I made sure we keep near the glass walls close to the outside. Since each employees takes care of their own areas, we only needed to talk to few people who were luckily from the outer areas"

Hmmm? Then...

"Why is that person in that other greenhouse if they have to work in their area?"

"I can't be completely sure since the new manager could've made some changes but before seniors would take juniors there once in a while to learn the ropes of the job over there. Although they were not allowed to do much, the experience was helpful in the situation they needed a helping hand and they lacked people"

Hmmm... That sounds about right I guess. But I am not sure how to feel when I think that the person we are looking for was going there. Being mixed with the whole theft situation makes these people stand up enough so maybe it is because of that.

"I see, I guess our luck was bad since she happened to be there right now"

"You could say so, but if think we are wasting our time you can tell me and we could go to another location. It is not like you absolutely have to talk to this person right now"

That is true... but I would like to wait for a bit more so I can confirm whether or not that worker is there by coincidence. I was thinking that since there are people who will be uncooperative, I would at least like to know who they are and how far would they try to avoid me. Of course, I could be mistaken so I will be wasting if it turns out like that.

"Let us wait for a bit more, I don't want to waste time like this, but since we are already here..."

Miss Highlander seemed to consider my answer and just said.

"I see"

With that said, she did not raise the same question again.

Once again silent, she just calmly stayed a few steps from me without trying to continue the conversation.

I used this time to consider this person. I met her yesterday, and from what I learned she seems to be a capable and trusted individual. There is one thing I am not sure of, and that makes me wonder whether she could suddenly become hostile o not. Recalling a bit what the little girl Noir told me, many people were fired and new ones were hired to replace those positions. Those who were brought in since then were people who work for one of the Kingwoods 'secretly'. If that is the case... Whose side is this Miss working for?.

Hmmm, hopefully this will be groundless worry. Well, I already prepared myself to not trust anyone. But I guess I still would like to find people who would lend me a hand. Which reminds me, that crazy old man... he said all that but I haven't heard from him at all so far. Was all that just for amusement or does he really plan to make me lend him a hand? Why is he not saying anything? If it's because I have been moving around... then he will contact me when I go back to the manor on my own. But if it's because now is not the time then it is worrisome. He was planing something with that other guy he meet in the garden. Involving myself with that feels like it will lead me to a dead end so I would love to avoid anything to do with such a thing. I still wonder what is he planing to do... Is there a way to find out without getting too into it?.

For now there is nothing I can do. But I am afraid that will be until tonight since he had something planed. If that is the case... Do those guys know about it? But they are not doing anything about it. No, I just don't know such a thing. There is no way they don't have even the slightest idea. Not surewhat they could do, but I doubt it will something simple. Maybe I should look into that instead of what I am currently doing? I would like to know where to start though. This is such a troublesome matter. The more I think, the more problems I seem to have. But I can stop thinking, that would be just running away from what it is in front of me.

Well, if they let me go I won't complaint though. That is wishful thinking at this point. Right now I am with the Miss in this closed space, but when I was outside I could still feel I was being watched. That much is normal, but the slightly hostile feeling is what bothers me. At the beginning the feeling was not that apparent, but I kept moving around, it got worse. Although it was not around when I got lost in the woods, not sure I want to get 'lost' again to test it though. Well, it is a worthy idea in a time of need... slightly double edge, but I could consider it. I wish I had a map in case I had to do so, it would be easier for me. After all, the people here have the field knowledge advantage, while I know nothing. Maybe I could get my hands on one from the guards HQ. The problem would be to either get it without they knowing, or asking for one and not sounding too strange. I don't want to to have more people on me.

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After waiting for another 5 minutes, the person we were looking for finally came back.

Not much can be said from her appearance, like the other employees working here... she was wearing a blue overall uniform. She had short black hair and brown eyes. Also, she did not act like the others showing open reclutant feelings of talking to me, at least so far.

Considering her initial reaction, I thought we could find out more from her than from the others.

Sadly, in that regard she was like the ones from before. What a shame.

It was really strange, at the beginning she was easy to talk to. But once I started to touch the subject she went on guard. Going from fairly relaxed to tense... strange. Since this is similar to the the others I was not surprised because it happened but rather with her initial reaction. It makes it look like her change comes from fear more than just simple reclutance. Similar to a cat when you step on their tails. Well, that is mostly my supposition since she acted according the same script I have heard from Mr. White, and the ones I talked just before her. Why do they avoid the topic this much? Even though it could be considered morally wrong to scheme with other people against your boss... I don't think that such a large number of people are just embarrassed or guilty to admit it. Fear, fear, fear, huh... That is the only thing I can think that could make it like this. But then, I don't what that is so I won't be able to talk to them about it.

Although the talk itself was mostly fruitless, I got to see a little of the problem in question. They mostly keep these people quiet through fear, at least that is what it looks with this employee. Then again... Will they only use threats? Maybe they only use as a last option. They could've bought them with money and maybe some promises about better positions. From the three before I didn't find them restless like this one when I touched the topic. Hmmm, I could be right about this... but this won't change much what I have to do. They might feel like avoiding talking to me in order to not leak a thing, but I think that not all of them will be able to do such a thing. They are pretty much normal employees for the most part. Not sure why the number of guards is low on the list. But I doubt they are all clean. Regardless, most of them a newbies so they won't be experts at hiding information. I will probably will get a few hints now and then... only if I identify them of course. Just in case I should try to remember to write down the content of the conversations. I might not get the hint while talking but maybe reading it later could prove useful.

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After talking to the last person we came here for, there was not further need to be here. For some reason Miss Highlander asked me if I wanted to take a look at the other greenhouse. Which I promptly denied, really now... I don't want to go there and yet she asks me that. Not sure if I could take that as a joke since she kept a straight face when she asked. Maybe because she saw me paying attention to the plants and flowers when we were waiting for that employee, she thought I was interest in looking around some more. Well, I can't say I was not even one bit 'curious' about the contents of that greenhouse, but just knowing about the possible dangers made me reclutant to get near that place. Not to mention I still carry a slightly fear about poison in general thanks to that time with that dangerous guy. So, regardless the guard's kind (?) offer, I just told her that we had things to do and we should be on our way. One thing worth mentioning was the rather obvious signs of relief on the greenhouse employee's face when I said that. I almost felt like going to take a look, but considered to leave that for a later time.

Once on our way out I was thinking on a way to keep my access pass, but I failed to do so. When the idea occured to me, we were already near the building where were suppose to give them back. I did not have the time to think of good idea to keep it, or the timing to hide it and making it look like I lost it. In that regard I can only say I was slow. But I at least paid extra attention to the process that young manager used during our exit. From what I saw, the process when signing in or out are pretty similar, in the hand of the guy it took a couple of seconds to complete it.

Although I am not excited of coming here again, that employee's reaction still weights on my mind. I would like to come later with someone other than Miss Highlander to see whether or not the reaction was related to her. No matter what kind of answer I get after confirming that, I will have more things to look into. I can only sigh knowing that my 'to do list' keeps growing.

On our way to the vehicle the Miss got a phone call, considering she put a pretty serious face when listening to the voice coming from the phone. She also did not speak back that much, only simple answers like 'yes' or 'no'. Ending the phone call with 'on my way', she turned to face me.

Now what?.

"I recieved a phone call, I am afraid I won't be able to take you around"

Huh, I was considering when I would have change to come here again without her and now this happens. How uncanny.

"Is there something wrong?"

I ask since this doesn't seem normal.

"Well..."

She leaves the sentence hanging, maybe thinking whether or not to tell me. If she has to be that mindful about it then I can only imagine that it is not a simple situation.

Having finished making her mind, she finally says.

"One of the Kingwoods went missing"

Hmmm, not sure if I wanted to know that. Now that I know, I will probably get involved with this too.